Functional Renal Engraftment
Key Personnel
Iain Drummond (Contact PI)
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
- Sam Hughes (Research Associate)
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory - Heiko Schenk (Postdoc)
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory - Amber Wolf (Research Associate)
Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory
Leif Oxburgh (PI)
The Rogosin Institute
- Justin Bejar (Research Associate)
The Rogosin Institute - Tinghsien Chuang (Postdoctoral Fellow)
The Rogosin Institute
Denise K. Marciano (PI)
University of Texas, Southwestern
- Bryanna LeGrand (Research Technician)
University of Texas, Southwestern - Isabel Lopez-Garcia (MSTP student)
University of Texas, Southwestern
Project Description
Our project aims to solve the crucial problem of functionally engrafting stem cell-derived new kidney tissue and demonstrating nephron fluid flow and urine drainage. Our principle aim is to demonstrate kidney function in renal tissue grafts in the rodent. We combine insights from three models: zebrafish kidney regeneration from stem-cell derived new nephrons, 3D in vitro epithelial cell culture models of tubule fusion, and surgical engraftment of human iPS cell-derived kidney organoids in the mouse. We anticipate that engineering kidney engraftment will lead to more complete differentiation of stem cell-derived nephrons, establish standard assays for functionally testing implanted kidney tissue, and ultimately accelerate progress towards development of therapeutic kidney replacement therapy.
